Techniques of Criminal Investigation: Profiling, Psychological Autopsies, Hypnosis, & Lie Detection

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY

Criminal Profiling
Is it part of Forensic Psychology
Training controlled by FBI Limited job opportunity Most profilers have not graduate training in

psychology Art vs. Science Methodology Issues

Definition
Sociopsychological profile

Criminal Profiling
False Stereotypes & Simplified Assumptions DC Sniper Case Approaches to Profiling
Distinguishing the Evil Person Determining Common Characteristics Extracting Specific Characteristics

Criminal Profiling

Procedures

Crime Scene Analysis: 2 satges:

Initial: fingerprints. Pictures etc Detailed: below

Generating a Criminal Profile: 5 stages

Study of criminal act & person who have committed such acts: what was the nature of the murder. Nature of acts(shooting, strangling etc) shows characteristics
MO: modus operandi technique of performing crime eg: ted bundy feigned an injury Signature: techniques to facilitate perpetration of crime. Satisfy killers emotional needs. Nothing to do with efficiency of committing crime.

Detailed analysis of crime scene: body moved? Sexual assault? Etc looking for organized vs disorganized killer In-depth analysis of the background and activities of victim or victims: anything common about victims? Bundy young women w/ long brown hair Formulation of possible motivating factors for involved parties: common link between victims Development of descriptors of the perpetrator based on characteristics of crime scene & behavior: actual criminal profile

Criminal Profiling: kinds of murder

Mass Murder: 3 or more ppl in same place at same time, excludes family murders. Eg: columbine, VT clock tower Spree Murder: multiple killings, different locations, no cooling off period (a day or more). Serial Murder: multiple victims, multiple locations w/ cooling off period Organized (have a plan. Lots of forethought. Not impulsive killing. May have a ruse. More likely to use restraints. More likely to commit sexual acts w/ live victims. Victim spends time w/ killer while alive as it gives them sense of power & control. Use torture. Use vehicles. More likely to reposition body) vs Disorganized Criminals (more likely to leave clues, killing weapon at scene. May move body, feel remorse like closing eyes. More likely to perform sex acts after victim has died. Try to depersonalize body- cover face, redress victim. Less liekly to use vehicle and less likely to be a tie between victims)

Non-social vs. asocial (archaic term)

Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP. Took all info of cases into database. Try to reduce profiling time & help w/ making educated guess.

Research on Convicted Offenders

Effectiveness of Profiling about 30-35% Professionals vs. non-professionals actual ones vs police detectives, lay ppl etc. better organised, more detailed richer profiles by professionals. Professional were better in sexual abuse cases, but not in homicidal cases. Evaluation of Profiling: only a tool in investigation

Psychological Autopsies
Definition Reasons for a PA
Testamentary capacity Workers compensation cases Defense in criminal trial Determining mode and reason of death

Suicide/homicide

Nash Classification

Psychological Autopsies
Guidelines
Empirical Criteria for Determination of Death

(ECDD)

The USS Iowa Incident Expert testimony based on psychological

autopsies

Hypnosis in Criminal Investigations

Grew rapidly in the 1970s due to admissibility

of evidence Martin Reisers position Hillside Strangler Case Hypnosis of Witnesses & Victims Research Reviews
Meta-analyses

Conclusions

Hypnosis in Criminal Investigations

Court Decisions
Per se exclusionary rule Totality of circumstances test

Guidelines

Qualifications Pre-hypnosis records Electronic recording of hypnosis session Measurement of Hypnotizability Pre-hypnosis briefing Management of session Selective use

The Polygraph Technique

Use in interrogation A psychological analysis Control Question Technique Difference Score Relevant-Irrelevant test False Positives & False Negatives Research Evaluation

The Polygraph Technique

Criticisms of the Polygraph Current legal status Role of Forensic Psychologist
Interference with counter-measures